CrownBet seeks expidited approval for Clubs NSW deal

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts Limited recently announced that it plans to ask the Supreme Court of New South Wales (NSW) to expedite approval of their betting partnership deal with Clubs NSW, local reports reveal. The $300 million deal, which was announced this February, would see Crown Resorts’ digital betting service CrownBet advertised at registered clubs in the area, whose representative body is Clubs NSW.

Per the deal, CrownBet’s online platform and betting app will be promoted at approximately 1,200 clubs across New South Wales for the next ten years. Crown won the deal by outmatching rival operators, Tabcorp, Sportsbet, and betting.club, with higher commissions for the clubs on any bets made in their venues along with more member benefits. They will also stimulate prospective punters by giving away CrownBet Rewards points for using the service, which can later be exchanged back for food or beverages.

However, not long after the deal was revealed, the state’s regulatory body, the agreement to ensure it was “consistent with regulatory requirements” due to possible conflicts of interest in the tender process. While the announcement to review the CrownBet deal was made in February, it has yet to be completed. Local rivals Tabcorp, who already have established a physical presence at NSW clubs, were also part of the process but were not selected. In fact, at the time, Tabcorp wrote to club chief executives warning them that by accepting the competitor’s machines into registered clubs could be a violation of the Unlawful Gambling Act.

CrownBet CEO, Matt Tripp, reportedly said that there has been a significant demand for CrownBet’s product from licensed clubs in the area, to which they want to meet as soon as they’re able. He added that they will be asking for expedited approval so that they may provide “certainty” to the hundreds of clubs that want Crown Bet to be able to advertise in their venues, according to Asia Gaming Brief. Anthony Bell, Clubs NSW CEO, also reportedly said that they expect the process to provide clarity as to the legal position of CrownBet’s offer and that they are confident the Court will support it fully.